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International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Sport
Ana Trenas

Pundits Make Their 2026 FIFA World Cup Predictions, Who Do You Think Will Be Lifting the Trophy in New York?

FIFA World Cup World Cup Spain England France New York Argentina Alan Shearer Football Thomas Frank
World Cup fever has erupted across North America as the most expansive tournament in football history gets under way, with 48 nations chasing glory across the United States, Canada and Mexico in a month-long spectacle (Credit: Fauzan Saari/UNSPLASH)

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is finally here, bringing together 48 nations across the United States, Canada and Mexico in the largest tournament the sport has ever seen. With 104 matches scheduled over more than a month of football, fans around the globe are asking the same question: who will lift the famous trophy on 19 July?

Predicting a World Cup winner is never easy. Injuries, form, suspensions and unexpected upsets can completely change the course of a tournament. Yet as the competition begins, betting markets, football analysts and advanced statistical models have identified a handful of teams as the leading contenders.

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